Hepatitis B Virus DNA is Absent in Lebanese Blood Donors Who Are Positive for Both Anti-Hbc and Anti-Hbs Antibodies

Abstract

A major risk during blood transfusion is the transmission of infectious agents such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Screening for anti-HBc antibodies has long been used to test HBV infection and thus, blood safety. However, the development of advanced tools enabling HBV-DNA detection rendered the diagnostic benefit of anti-HBc test uncertain.